Information recording medium and reproducing apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area ( 102 ) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area ( 101 ) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium.

This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.11/675,241 filed Feb. 15, 2007 (now allowed); which is a Continuation ofco-pending application Ser. No. 11/187,963 filed Jul. 25, 2005 (now U.S.Pat. No. 7,193,958); which is a Continuation of co-pending applicationSer. No. 10/457,556, filed on Jun. 10, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No.6,937,555); which is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 09/558,069,filed on Apr. 26, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,716), and for whichpriority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120; and this application claimspriority of Application No. 11-121381/1999 filed in Japan on Apr. 28,1999 and Application No. 11-176869/1999 filed in Japan on Jun. 23, 1999;under 35 U.S.C. §119; the entire contents of all are hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information recording medium and areproducing apparatus therefor, particularly, relates to a informationrecording medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, an opticalcard, a magnetic card, an IC card, a magnetic tape and an optical tape,and a reproducing apparatus for such information recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently there existed various kinds of information recording mediumsrecorded with information, which can be read out optically, magneticallyand electronically. A production quantity of such information recordingmediums is increasing year by year in conjunction with progress ofinformation society.

In contrast to diffusion of an information recording medium, a quantityof mediums, which are not necessary after use, is surely increasing.From a viewpoint of protecting the global environment, these mediums notnecessary must be disposed properly or recycled. However, they arealmost not properly disposed or recycled. They create problems such asenvironmental pollution by illegal abandonment of them, waste of limitedglobal resources and the global heat-island phenomenon caused bydestroying them by fire. Such problems seriously affect life on theearth, if the problems are not solved shortly. In a worst case, humanbeings can not survive any more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of thecurrent situation, an object of the present invention is to provide aninformation recording medium additionally recorded with an environmentalload information, which is an information about affection to the globalenvironment caused by the information recording medium and directlyrecorded on the information recording medium while manufacturing. Themethod of additionally recording the environmental information utilizesa recording function, which is essentially inherent to an informationrecording medium. Since an environmental load information recorded on aninformation recording medium can be read out easily by an end user whenhe takes the information recording medium, the information recordingmedium can be properly disposed or recycled when the informationrecording medium is not necessary any more. Accordingly, the globalenvironment can be protected.

Further, some cases such that an environmental pollution is provoked byan incorrect method of disposing or impurities are increased by anincorrect recycling method, can be eliminated. The environmental loadinformation can also be utilized for dividing information recordingmediums to be disposed when a treater of recycling or disposing receivesthem as well as for referring it by an end user.

Nevertheless, there existed another technical problem. Almost allinformation recording mediums are simple in configuration. However, allareas of a medium are allocated to a recording material, an auxiliarymaterial for recording, a guide for recording and a guide forreproducing. Therefore, no area is allocated exclusively to anenvironmental load information. Accordingly, a part of main informationrecording area is assigned for an area for recording the environmentalload information. It can be applicable for an information recordingmedium having a large recording capacity. However, it can not be appliedfor an information recording medium having a smaller recording capacity.Further, there is no excellent method for an information capacity not tobe reduced. If a label inscribed with an environmental load informationis affixed on a surface of an information recording medium, a recordingcapacity, which can be reproduced, decreases. In a worst case, the labelaffixed on the information recording medium may warp the medium itselfand creates a further problem such that the information recording mediumcan not be reproduced. In addition thereto, there existed a furthermoreproblem that a reproducing apparatus to reproduce the environmental loadinformation is not existed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides,according to an aspect thereof, an information recording medium, whichcomprises an information recording area provided for recording and/orreproducing, an identification (ID) information recording area recordedwith an ID information of the information recording medium, wherein theID information recording area is allocated in a circular arc on acircumference of a predetermined radius provided outside an innercircumference side of the information recording area and a recordingarea for environmental load information recorded with a productmanufacturing information related to the information recording medium,wherein the recording area for environmental load information isprovided on the circumference without overlapping with the IDinformation area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there provided aninformation recording medium, which comprises an information recordingarea provided for recording and/or reproducing, an identification (ID)information recording area recorded with an ID information of theinformation recording medium, wherein the ID information recording areais allocated in a circular arc on a circumference of a predeterminedradius provided outside an inner circumference side of the informationrecording area and a recording area for environmental load informationrecorded with a product manufacturing information related to theinformation recording medium, wherein the recording area forenvironmental load information is provided on a reading out surface forinformation of the information recording medium and provided on thecircumference without overlapping with the ID information area withviewing from the reading out surface side. According to further aspectof the present invention, there provided a reproducing apparatus forreproducing an information recording medium mentioned in above aspects.The reproducing apparatus comprises reproducing means for reproducingthe environmental load information recorded in one area of a lead-inarea, a lead-out area and the information recording area.

Other object and further features of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a usual optical disk as an informationrecording medium according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an optical disk having a basic sectionalconfiguration, which is common to optical disks shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and4.

FIG. 3 shows an appearance of an optical disk as an informationrecording medium according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows an appearance of an optical disk as an informationrecording medium according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a pit array on a surface of information recording area withplacing an environmental load information upon an original informationaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an appearance of an information recording medium, which isrecorded with an environmental load information in a neighboring areafor engraving on a surface of information recording area, according to afifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an optical disk, which is formed with anarea recorded with an environmental load information, according to asixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an information recording medium, which isrecorded with an environmental load information in parallel to an areafor engraving on a surface of reading area, according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an optical disk, which is formed with anarea recorded with an environmental load information, according to aneighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an appearance of an optical disk having a sectionalconfiguration shown in FIG. 9 as an information recording mediumaccording to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an optical disk, which is formed with anarea recorded with an environmental load information, according to aninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an appearance of an optical disk having a sectionalconfiguration shown in FIG. 11 as an information recording mediumaccording to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an optical disk, which is formed with anarea recorded with an environmental load information, according to atenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows an appearance of an optical disk having a sectionalconfiguration shown in FIG. 13 as an information recording mediumaccording to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an appearance of an optical disk with cartridge as aninformation recording medium according to an eleventh embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 shows an appearance of a magnetic tape built in a cartridge asan information recording medium according to a twelfth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary record of an area recorded with an environmentalload information.

FIG. 18 is another exemplary record of an area recorded with anenvironmental load information.

FIG. 19 shows a block diagram of a reproducing apparatus for aninformation recording medium according to a thirteenth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of a reproducing apparatus for aninformation recording medium according to a fourteenth embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Prior to depict each embodiment, an information recording medium inaccordance with the present invention, an environmental loadinformation, a recording position of the environmental load informationand its recording method and a reproducing apparatus for the informationrecording medium in accordance with the present invention are describedfirst in general.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there provided a firstinformation recording medium comprising an information recording area ora main information recording area for recording or reproducing maininformation and a recording area for environmental load information,which is recorded with an environmental load information of the firstinformation recording medium. The recording area for environmental loadinformation is provided with a recording layer composed of a material,which can be reproduced by utilizing at least one change of light,magnetism, electrostatic capacitance or electrical resistance.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there provided asecond information recording medium, wherein an environmental loadinformation of the second information recording medium is recordedinside an information recording area or a main information recordingarea. The environmental load information is recorded on a signal track,that is, an array of pits in the main information recording area withbeing dispersed or superimposed. In other case, the environmental loadinformation is recorded in a lead-in area or a lead-out area of theinformation recording medium.

Further, the environmental load information is at least one informationabout a material of composing the first or second information recordingmedium, a category code of the material, a reprocessing method, adisposing method, an environmental pollution coefficient when disposing,an intermediate when manufacturing and an environmental pollutioncoefficient when manufacturing.

With respect to a first and second information recording mediums, a diskshaped read only optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disk) and a DVD(Digital Versatile Disk) is utilized for easier explanation. However, arecording/reproducing type optical disk such as an MD (Mini Disk), an MO(Magneto-Optical) disk, an HS (Hyper Storage) disk, a GIGAMO (GIGA-byteMagneto-Optical) disk, an ASMO (Advanced Storage Magneto-Optical) disk,a PD (Photo Disk), a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disk-Random AccessMemory), a CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable), a DVD-R (Digital VersatileDisk-Recordable), a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk-ReWritable) and aDVD+RW (Digital Versatile Disk+ReWritable) can also be applied. Inaddition thereto, a magnetic disk, an optical card, a magnetic card, anIC card, a magnetic tape and an optical tape can also be applied aswell.

An environmental load information, which is recorded on an informationrecording medium in accordance with the present invention, is selectedfrom following 4 information (1) through (4). All or a part of them isrecorded as the environmental load information.

(1) Material information related to product, which is an informationabout main and sub materials. For example, polycarbonate is a mainmaterial utilized for a transparent substrate of an optical disk andacrylic hardening paint is a sub material for a protection layer of anoptical disk. A third and fourth materials can also be: described ifnecessary. In a case of a read only optical disk, for example, aluminumutilized for a recording layer of the optical disk can be described as athird material. In a case of a phase change type recording/reproducingdisk as an example of recording/reproducing type optical disk, Te(tellurium), Sb (antimony) and Ge (germanium) can be described as athird, fourth and fifth materials respectively. In a case of amagneto-optical recording/reproducing disk, Tb (terbium), Fe (iron) andCo (cobalt) can be described as a third, fourth and fifth materialsrespectively. An indicating name of these materials and listing of thesematerials can be arbitrarily decided by each manufacturer or followed bya standard defined by an official facility. It is desirable that anorder of listing is decided by a volume of a component. However, it isdesirable that a material having a larger environmental load whenutilized, a highly toxic material and a material including a componentof a larger environmental load when disposed shall be ranked higheralthough they are an extremely small quantity. A category code ofmaterial shall be described herewith. Materials mentioned above shall bedescribed by category in accordance with a predetermined standard.Category codes defined by an official facility can also be utilized.

(2) Recycling information, which is an information about recycling orreusing a product. The recycling information is described such thatthrow it into a recycle box or a reuse box installed in a park, arailway station, a convenience store, a super market, a CD shop or anelectric appliance store, send it to a processing center, or leave it toa rubbish gatherer going round a town regularly or non-regularly.Further, a division code for recycling shall be described together withthe recycling information. A method of recycling mentioned above shallalso be described with classifying in accordance with a predeterminedstandard. A code defined by an official facility can also be utilized.These processing methods and codes can be defined separately for an enduser and for a rubbish gatherer, and then described on a product. Withrespect to a processing method for a rubbish gatherer, it is a mostdesirable that a detailed method such as grinding into pieces or meltingis described, and that its processing conditions such as time duration,a degree of pH and a temperature are also described.

(3) Abandoning information, which indicates a method of abandoning aproduct without recycling or reusing it. For example, a processingmethod such that the product is incinerated or the product is decomposednaturally by burying it in the earth, by efflorescing it or bydispersing it into a river or sea is described. A division code forabandon is necessary in conjunction with a method of abandoning. Thedivision code for abandon shall be classified such as flammable resin,flame-retardant resin, high temperature generating resin, greenhouseeffect gas generating resin, dioxin generating resin, internal secretiondisturbing chemical generating resin, groundwater polluting resin andbiodegradability resin. Further, most suitable conditions such astemperature and time duration for processing shall be described. Theseinformation can be defined separately for an end user and for a rubbishgatherer, and then described on a product. Furthermore, it is moredesirable to describe an environmental pollution coefficient. Inaddition thereto, it is further desirable to describe a coefficient whenprocessed most properly and a coefficient when incinerated separately.The environmental pollution coefficient when processed most properly isan influence upon environment, which is generated when processing inaccordance with a most proper processing method, indicated by an indexnumber. The environmental pollution coefficient is calculated totally orindividually from each quantity such as, for example, generated heatquantity, generated carbon dioxide quantity, generated methane gasquantity, generated vapor quantity, generated nitrogen oxide quantity,generated dioxin quantity and ozone layer depleting quantity anddescribed on a product. The environmental pollution coefficient whenincinerated is an influence upon environment, which is generated whendisposed by an end user with a smaller incinerating furnace for homeuse, school use or park use, for example, and is indicated by an indexnumber. The environmental pollution coefficient is calculated totally orindividually from each quantity such as, for example, generated heatquantity and generated carbon dioxide quantity as well. An index numberdefined by an official facility can also be utilized.

(4) Product manufacturing information, which describes a name ofintermediate and an influence upon environment when the product ismanufactured. An intermediate is a component or a part, whichtemporarily appears during manufacturing processes and does not appearin a final product. All or main intermediates shall be described. Forexample, such materials as Ni (nickel) for a stamper and soda lime glassfor a glass master are intermediates. It is desirable to describe rawmaterials utilized during manufacturing process together withintermediates. All or main raw materials being added duringmanufacturing processes shall be described. For example, nickelsulfamate and boric acid, which are utilized for manufacturing astamper, and cresol novolac and solvent, which are utilized formanufacturing a glass master, are raw materials. Main materialsmentioned in the paragraph (1) above can be described once againherewith. These materials can be described in accordance with amanufacturing process chart defined by the ISO 14001, for example.Further, it is desirable to describe an environmental pollutioncoefficient accompanying a manufacturing process. Product manufacturinginformation such as materials added during a manufacturing process,amounts of consuming electric power and water and air, numerical valuesof exhausting by-products and heat and gas, and an influence uponenvironment calculated from these additives and waste are described.Codes defined by an official facility can be described as productmanufacturing information.

Since this product manufacturing information is related to factoryinformation of a manufacturer, it is desirable to describe a name or acode specifying the manufacturer and relating information altogether.Such information is selected from information such as name of a factory,name of a responsible person, country of manufacturing, full or a partof address of manufacturing, telephone number, facsimile number, URL ofhome page and e-mail address, and then recorded. A factory name can beexpressed by a code or a logo registered in the International Federationof the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and a country of manufacturing canbe expressed by a numerical value or a character array regulated by theISO 3166. Further, it is desirable to record manufacturing devices in afactory such as a type number of a device utilized for mastering and atype number of a device utilized for molding altogether. Theseinformation about a manufacturer are effective for clarifying a productliability (PL) of the manufacturer. Further, since these information canhave another advantage of proofing the product as a genuine one if aforgery is circulated in a market, so that it is desirable to describethese information as far as possible. Furthermore, a company name ofconsigning production and a company name of producing contents can alsobe described herewith. It is rather desirable to describe them. It isfurther desirable to select from and describe information about thecompany of consigning production and producing contents such as name ofresponsible person, full or a part of address, telephone number,facsimile number, URL of home page and e-mail address.

These environmental load information can be described in various forms.They can be expressed, for example, in a table, a text or a stillpicture caricatured for easier understanding. It is also acceptable torecord them by moving pictures such as in a commentary program of TVbroadcasting, in animation or a finger language even sound and music.Animation and a finger language can be understandable for end users anda table can be usable for treater of recycling and disposing.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary record in a table format recorded with anenvironmental load information. In this case, a CD disk represents anoptical disk and the environmental load information is recorded on onesurface of the CD disk.

As shown in FIG. 17, an index number is described together withinformation so as to recognize the environmental load informationeasier. An index number [999] is assigned to the environmental loadinformation. Each information composing the environmental loadinformation is formed in a hierarchical configuration. The environmentalload information [999] is divided into 4 categories such that the “(1)Material information related to product”, mentioned above, is assignedto “PRODUCT [100]”, “(2) Recycling information” is “RECYCLE [200]”, “(3)Abandoning information” is “ABANDON [300]” and “(4) Productmanufacturing information” is “PROCESS [400]”. Each information iscomposed of several items and linked to related informationcorresponding to the items. Accordingly, a person utilizing theinformation can make access to an answer easily with searching an itemto know sequentially in a hierarchical order.

In the case of “RECYCLE [200]”, it is divided into 4 items: “RecyclingMethod (for end user) [201]”, “Division Code for Recycle (for end user)[202]”, “Recycling Method (for treater) [203]” and “Division Code forRecycle (for treater) [204]”. Corresponding to each item there providedinformation codes such as “Transfer to JDRC”, “R-D1”, “Molten” and“D1-PC”. Although, these codes are defined imaginarily for explanation,for example, “JDRC” stands for “Japan Disk Recycle Center”, the “R-D1”stands for “Recycle Disk type 1”, the “Molten” means that a disk ismolten by a high temperature processing and the “D1-PC” means “Disk type1-polycarbonate and relating plastics”.

In a case that a user desires to dispose a CD disk for recycling, theuser refers the “Recycling Method (for end user) [201]” in the “RECYCLE[200]” first, and then refers the “Division Code for Recycle (for enduser) [202]”. The user can recognize that the disk shall be transferredto JDRC for recycling and a division code for recycling is “R-D1”. As aresult, the user can notice the division code “R-D1” when the disk istransferred to the JDRC. Accordingly, the JDRC can apply a bestrecycling method in accordance with a product without reconfirmingrecycling information one by one.

Further, in a case that a waste treater disposes such a CD disk withoutrecycling, the waste treater refers an “Abandon Method (for treater)[303]” in the “ABANDON [300]” first, and then refers to a “Division Codefor Abandon (for treater) [304]”. The waste treater can recognize thatan abandon method is “B-P1” and a division cord for abandon is “P-1”.Although, these codes are defined imaginarily for explanation, forexample, the “B-P1” means “for Burning up Plastic type 1” and the “P-1”means a “wide use Plastic type 1”. As a result, the waste treater canclarify a disposing method such that the CD disk having the divisioncode “P-1” is processed by the abandon method “B-P1”. Accordingly, abest abandon method can be applied in accordance with the CD disk.

FIG. 18 is an indication format of the environmental load informationshown in FIG. 17, which is compactly coded for easier recording on anoptical disk. An index number mentioned above and corresponding item arestandardized, so that a reproducing apparatus of reproducing theenvironmental load information and a personal computer connected to thereproducing apparatus can conveniently utilize the environmental loadinformation, if they store a collation table of an index number andcorresponding item. For example, the environmental load informationmentioned above is abbreviated to “ELI”. Further, index numbers “101”through “104” are respectively equivalent to “Main Material [101]”,“Category Code of Main Material [102]”, “Sub Material [103]” and“Category Code of Sub Material [104]” in the “PRODUCT [100]” shown inFIG. 17. Index numbers “201” through “204” are respectively equivalentto the “Recycling Method (for end user) [201]”, the “Division Code forRecycle (for end user) [202]”, the “Recycling Method (for treater)[203]” and the “Division Code for Recycle (for treater) [204]” in the“RECYCLE [200]” shown in FIG. 17. Index numbers “301” through “306” arerespectively equivalent to “Abandon Method (for end user) [301]”,“Division Code for Abandon (for end user) [302]”, the “Abandon Method(for treater) [303]”, “Division Code for Abandon (for treater) [304]”,“Environmental Pollution Coefficient at Best Disposing Method [305]” and“Environmental Pollution Coefficient at Disposing by Incineration [306]”in “ABANDON [300]” shown in FIG. 17. Index numbers “401” through “405”are respectively equivalent to “Intermediate [401]”, “Intermediate[402]”, “Raw material [403]”, “Raw Material [404]” and “EnvironmentalPollution Coefficient at Manufacturing [405]” in “PROCESS [400]” shownin FIG. 17. In addition thereto, polycarbonate and acrylic resin areabbreviated to “PC” and “ARC” respectively. The table shown in FIG. 18is composed of 121 characters, so that it can be recorded byapproximately 1 kB (kilobyte).

A recording position of the environmental load information and itsrecording method are depicted by a case that a part of a maininformation recording area of an optical disk is assigned to theenvironmental load information. Prior to an explanation of recordingposition and method, a configuration of current optical disk of which asectional configuration is common to various disk type informationrecording mediums is explained.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an optical disk, which is a basicsectional configuration common to optical disks shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and4. A usual optical disk is composed of such a configuration as shown inFIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the sectional configuration comprises an informationrecording surface 6, a reading out surface 7, a substrate 11, arecording layer 12 and a protection layer 13. As shown in FIG. 2, thesubstrate 11 and the recording layer 12 and the protection layer 13 aresequentially laminated. The information recording surface 6 engravedwith a fine pattern or a signal track is formed on a surface, which isfacing toward the recording layer 12, of the substrate 11. In a case ofa read only optical disk, a pit pattern is formed on the informationrecording surface 6. In a case of a recording/reproducing type opticaldisk, a groove pattern and/or a pit pattern is formed on the informationrecording surface 6. The recording layer 12 is made of single layer ofaluminum, in a case of a read only optical disk. However, in a case of arecording/reproducing type optical disk, the recording layer 12 isusually composed of plural layers. In almost all usual optical disks, anoptical pickup not shown is allocated at a side of an interface betweenthe substrate 11 and air. In other words, an optical pickup not shown isallocated under the substrate 11 in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the interfaceis called the reading out surface 7.

FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a usual optical disk, which is a view fromthe reading out surface 7 shown in FIG. 2. Since the substrate 11 is atransparent plate, the information recording surface 6 can be seenthrough the substrate 11. The information recording surface 6 comprisesa plurality of areas such as a lead-in area 3, a main information area 2and a lead-out area 4, which are sequentially allocated from a centerhole “H” to an outermost circumference of the usual optical disk. Someinformation selected from a type of the disk, an information related toa title and a table of contents and an index recorded in the maininformation area 2, and another information related to a time table arerecorded in the lead-in area 3. Contents such as a music information, avideo information and a computer program are recorded as a maininformation in the main information area 2. Further, a signal, whichshows that the main information area 2 is completed, is repeatedlyrecorded in the lead-out area 4. In addition thereto, the optical diskshown in FIG. 1 is a type of disk, which is recorded and reproduced froman innermost circumference to an outermost circumference. In a case ofanother type of disk, which is recorded and reproduced from an outermostcircumference to an innermost circumference, the lead-in area 3 and thelead-out area 4 are reversely allocated as well.

First Embodiment

In a case of recording the environmental load information mentionedabove in a usual optical disk having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1and 2, a part of the main information area 2 in the informationrecording surface 6 is reduced and a part of the reduced area can beprovided for an area of recording the environmental load information. Inother words, an area for environmental load information can be providedin the main information area 2 arbitrarily.

FIG. 3 shows an appearance of an optical disk, which is a view from thereading out surface 7 shown in FIG. 2, as an information recordingmedium according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.3, an optical disk 100 comprises a recording area 101 for environmentalload information, a main information area 102, a lead-in area 3, alead-out area 4 and a center hole “H”. The recording area 101 isprovided within the main information area 102. The lead-in area 3, themain information area 102, the recording area 101 and the lead-out area4 are sequentially allocated from the center hole “H” to an outermostcircumference of the optical disk 100. Accordingly, the informationrecording surface 6 is formed.

The optical disk 100 basically has the same configuration as that of theusual optical disk shown in FIG. 2. The optical disk 100 is an opticaldisk having a substrate 11, a recording layer 12 and a protection layer13 laminated together with in order as shown in FIG. 2. In a case ofrecording the environmental load information mentioned above on such theoptical disk 100, the recording area 101 for environmental loadinformation can be arbitrarily provided on the optical disk 100.However, it is desired to provide the recording area 101 in an endingarea of the main information area 102 preceding the lead-out area 4 asshown in FIG. 3 for convenience. In other words, a necessity ofdisposing or recycling an optical disk usually happens at a time whencontents of the optical disk have been utilized completely. Such therecording area 101 for environmental load information can be recorded ina format of being continuously reproduced immediately after contentsrecorded in the main information area 102 have been utilized or in aformat of being reproduced immediately after the optical disk has beenloaded in a reproducing apparatus. Further, the recording area 101 forenvironmental load information can be recorded in a format of beingreproduced arbitrarily selectable by providing a separate index. Anenvironmental load information to be recorded can be applicable torecording a wide range of formats such as a text format and a television(TV) program format. It is rather suitable for recording a format in alarge capacity such as a news commentary of a TV program, animation andtalking with hands, that is, a format including video images. In a casethat an optical disk is a DVD disk, a usual optical disk can recordinformation in the main information area 102 for 133 minutes. However,in a case of the optical disk 100, according to an aspect of the presentinvention, the recording time of 133 minutes is assigned to the maininformation area 102 for 130 minutes and the recording area 101 forenvironmental load information for 3 minutes. It is not necessary forthe main information area 102 and the recording area 101 forenvironmental load information to unify a physical format such as asignal system, a linear recording density and a track pitch. In a caseof a same physical format, an environmental load information can bereproduced immediately after contents recorded in the main informationarea 102 have been utilized, so that it is rather convenient. Inconsideration of recording and reproducing systems, different physicalformats can also be acceptable. In a case of a hybrid typerecording/reproducing disk, an innermost (or an outermost) circumferencearea is formed with pits and an area covering from an intermediate to anoutermost circumference area (or from an innermost to intermediatecircumference area) is formed with grooves. The former area is assignedto a read only area and the latter area is assigned to arecording/reproducing area respectively. Accordingly, the former areacan be assigned to the recording area 101 for environmental loadinformation and the latter area to the main information area 102. Therecording layer 12 shown in FIG. 2 equivalent to the recording area 101for environmental load information is composed of a material having acapability of being reproduced by utilizing at least one change oflight, magnetism, electrostatic capacitance and electric resistance.Accordingly, an environmental load information recorded on the recordinglayer 12 can be reproduced by one of an optical pickup, a magnetic head,an electrostatic sensor and an electrode. The material of the recordinglayer 12 corresponding to the recording area 101 for environmental loadinformation can be composed of a same material as the recording layer 12corresponding to the main information area 102.

A disk in a large capacity is a disk such as a DVD disk having acapacity of 4.7 GB per single face, 8.5 GB or 9.4 GB per double facesand 17 GB per quadri-faces and a high density optical disk having acapacity of 8 to 30 GB and being reproduced by utilizing a light sourceof 350 through 550 nm. However, an optical disk in a small capacity suchas a CD and MD disks can be utilized if a contents supplier permits. Ina case of applying to a CD disk, a CD-V (Compact Disk-Video), forexample, can be utilized. According to the CD-V Specifications, an areafrom an innermost to an intermediate circumference area is specified asa regular music CD and an outermost circumference area is assigned tovideo images. Accordingly, the former area can be assigned to the maininformation area and the latter area to the recording area 101 forenvironmental load information. Further, a CD extra disk can also beutilized. According to the CD extra Specifications (Blue Book), an areafrom an innermost to an intermediate circumference area is specified asa regular music CD and an outermost circumference area is assigned toCD-ROM data. Accordingly, the former area can be assigned to the maininformation area 102 and the latter area to the recording area 101 forenvironmental load information.

Thereupon, in a case of a high density optical disk utilizing a lightsource of 350 to 550 nm for reproduction, it is desirable for therecording area 101 for environmental load information that the recordingarea 101 is recorded with a format of being reproduced by a DVDreproducing apparatus. If the recording area 101 is recorded with a DVDsignal, for example, the environmental load information can bereproduced by a DVD reproducing apparatus as well as a reproducingapparatus for a high density optical disk utilizing a light source of350 to 550 nm for reproduction. Accordingly, such the environmental loadinformation can be widely utilized although a reproducing apparatus fora high density optical disk is not commonly available.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 4 shows an appearance of an optical disk as an informationrecording medium according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

There exist another method of recording an environmental loadinformation on the information recording surface 6 without reducing acapacity of the main information area 2 substantially. A configurationof such an optical disk is an optical disk 200 as shown in FIG. 4. Theconfiguration of the optical disk 200 is different from that of theoptical disk 100 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the optical disk 200comprises a recording area 201 for environmental load information, amain information area 202, a lead-in area 3, a lead-out area 4 and acenter hole “H”. The recording area 201 for environmental loadinformation overlaps with the main information area 202, that is, anenvironmental load information is recorded throughout the maininformation area 202 with scattering the environmental load information.In other words, in consideration of that shortage of data bit occursduring a data compression process or data processing of a digitalrecording in general, there exist a blank area, which can be changeable,although it is in a small capacity. Further, there exist another blankarea, for example, a specific blank area in a sub code, which isprovided for a future use, although it is in a small capacity. A nulldata, that is, a series of zeros is recorded in these blank areas. Theseblank areas, which are a number of specific areas, exist throughout themain information area 202, so that an environmental load information canbe scattered into these blank areas and recorded. A predetermined startbit is recorded at a head of each data and then data having the startbit are sequentially read out while reading out the data. A format in asmall to medium capacity such as a format of recording in a table formator an audio and music format is suitable for an environmental loadinformation to be recorded. In a case of a DVD disk, the maininformation area 202 is called a data zone. There exist one byte of areserved area (b28) provided for a future use in an identifier sector ina data sector of the data zone. The reserved area can be utilized forrecording an environmental load information. In addition thereto, across sectional configuration of the optical disk 200 is the same asthat of the optical disk 100 and the usual optical disk as shown in FIG.2.

Third Embodiment

There exist further method of recording an environmental loadinformation, which overlaps the environmental load information oncontents (main information) recorded in the main information area 202 asmentioned above. A configuration of such an optical disk is the same asthat of the optical disk 200 shown in FIG. 4. In a case that a maininformation is analog data, the environmental load information isrecorded as digital data with placing the environmental load informationupon the main information. In a case that the main information isdigital data, the environmental load information is recorded as analogdata with placing the environmental load information upon the maininformation. Since a digital data has an inherent clock frequency, byusing a selector or separator circuit commonly available mixed analogand digital data can be separated and reproduced individually.Particularly, in a case that a main information is digital data and anenvironmental load information is put upon the main information asanalog data, it is a most desirable case of least loss of informationvolume.

FIG. 5 shows a pit array “P” on a surface of main information area withplacing an environmental load information upon an original informationor a main information according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 5, a main information is recorded as anarray of fine pits Pa through Pn. A length of each pit represents adigital signal. On the other hand, an environmental load information isrecorded as macroscopic distortion of a pit array of the maininformation. In FIG. 5, the pit array “P” of the main information isdistorted as a sinusoidal wave form having an amplitude “W” and a period“L” and a signal, which is extracted from the distortion, is generated.Since a distortion can be approximated by a wave, an analog signal canbe produced by detecting a change of either the period “L” or theamplitude “W” or changes of both the period “L” and the amplitude “W”.The analog signal may be processed through an analog to digitalconversion, if necessary. Accordingly, the environmental loadinformation can be extracted as a digital format. A format in a small tomedium capacity such as a format of recording in a table format or anaudio and music format is suitable for an environmental load informationto be recorded.

There exist furthermore method of recording an environmental loadinformation, which puts the environmental load information in digitaldata upon a main information in digital data. When a pit array of maininformation is recorded, the main information area is prepared forrecording the pit array in both higher recording power (level) and lowerrecording power (level). An environmental load information is digitallycoded, and signals “1” and “0” are assigned to two levels respectivelyand recorded. Accordingly, there exist two areas; one is recorded withhigher recording power and the other is recorded with lower recordingpower. Since output levels of these two areas are different from eachother when reproduced, an output change can be observed. In a case thatthe output change is recorded in a lower frequency, it is observed as anenvelope shift. In a case that the output change is recorded in a higherfrequency, it is observed as an asymmetry shift. These shifts can beisolated through a filter, so that they can be separated from a mainsignal of the main information. Further, those shifts can be identifiedas signals “1” and “0” by a discriminator, so that a digital code can beextracted. Accordingly, an environmental load information can be put asdigital data upon a main information in digital data.

In these overlapping methods such as the distortion of pit array, theenvelope shift and the asymmetry shift mentioned above, unevenness on anoptical disk could be recognized if the disk is viewed after the diskhas been recorded by an overlapping method. Accordingly, a letter or acharacter can be intentionally recorded as visible unevenness on anoptical disk by utilizing a part of or whole the information recordingsurface 6. It is also possible to record such letters of “Incombustibledust” or a character of “Δ 7”, which can be read out by an opticalmethod, as an environmental load information by utilizing theinformation recording surface 6 of the optical disk 200. In a case thata minimum recognizing size, for example, a font size is more than 0.5 mmsquare, preferably more than 1 mm square, further preferably more than 2mm, it can be recognized by eyes without utilizing an inherentreproducing apparatus.

Fourth Embodiment

No inherent drawing is provided for the fourth embodiment.

The lead-in area 3 and the lead-out area 4 can also be utilized forrecording an environmental load information. There exist some fixedblank areas, which are provided for a future use in these lead-in area 3and lead-out area 4, although they are in a small capacity. A null data,that is, a series of zeros is recorded in these blank areas. However, anenvironmental load information can be recorded in these blank areas. Ina case of the lead-in area 3, for example, a text format can be recordedin the lead-in area 3. In a case of the lead-in area 3 of a DVD disk,there exist a zone, which is called the control data zone comprising 192blocks (sector number 02F200h through 02FE00h) composed of 16 physicalsectors per each block. The control data zone comprises one physicalsector of the zone for physical format information, one physical sectorof the zone for disk manufacturing information and 14 physical sectorsof the zone for publisher's information. However, the zones formanufacturing information and publisher's information are actually notutilized, so that a part of these zones can be utilized for recording anenvironmental load information. Accordingly, for example, materialinformation and product manufacturing information related to a productin accordance with the present invention can be recorded in the zone fordisk manufacturing information. Further, for example, recyclinginformation and abandoning information in accordance with the presentinvention can be recorded in the zone for publisher's information. In2048 bytes of the zone for physical format information, there provided areserved area, which is divided into two areas composed of 17th through31st byte and 32nd through 2047th byte respectively. The reserved areais usually filled with a null data, so that the reserved area can beutilized for recording an environmental load information in accordancewith the present invention.

In a case of a CD disk, according to the CD text Specification, a lettercan be written into the lead-in area. 6000 alphanumeric letters areprovided for text data. Accordingly, the lead-in area of a CD disk canalso be applied for recording an environmental load information.

Furthermore, in a case of the lead-out area 4, since the lead-out area 4is a residual capacity of the main information area 2, it can widely beapplicable for recording a text format and recording a format of a TVprogram. In addition thereto, information necessary to lead-in orlead-out is recorded in the lead-in area 3 or lead-out area 4 severaltimes repeatedly, so that an environmental load information can beapplied to a vacant area, which is produced by reducing a number oftimes repeating.

Fifth Embodiment

In a case of a CD disk and a DVD disk, there exist an engraving area ora recording area for identification (ID) information, which is allocatedapproximately in parallel to the lead-in area 3, wherein a title numberof the disk or like is engraved by visible letters. In almost all cases,the engraving area is recorded within an angle of less than 180° andother area is still blank.

FIG. 6 shows an appearance of an information recording medium, which isrecorded with an environmental load information in a neighboring areafor engraving on a surface of information recording area, according to afifth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, an optical disk 500, in accordance with an aspect of thepresent information, comprises a center hole “H”, an engraving area 508,a recording area 501 for environmental load information, a lead-in area3, a main information area 2 and a lead-out area 4. They are allocatedsequentially from an innermost area to an outermost circumference andform an information recording area totally. In the engraving area 508, atitle number of the optical disk 500 and a stamper number are recordedin a circular arc by visible letters. However, in almost all cases, theengraving area 508 is recorded within an angle of less than 180° andother angle is kept blank. An environmental load information can berecorded in the blank angle or a blank space and the blank space can beassigned to the recording area 501 for environmental load information.Providing the recording area 501 for environmental load information doesnot interfere in a main information at all or not reduce a recordingcapacity of the main information area 2. Further, a facility utilizedfor the engraving area 508 can also be utilized for recording anenvironmental load information in the recording area 501 forenvironmental load information, so that it is more efficient. In almostall cases, the engraving area 508 is formed by a method of cutting whilemanufacturing a stamper or by a punch pressing at a final step ofmanufacturing a stamper, so that a wide variation of formats can berecorded in the recording area 501 for environmental load information. Amethod of cutting being commonly utilized is a useful method, which canselect either recording in a visible letter or recording in a formatread out by a reproducing apparatus as a same method as for recording inthe lead-in area 3.

Since an environmental load information is in smaller capacity than amain information, a coarser pattern can be applicable for a finepattern. A pit pattern, for example, and one-dimensional ortwo-dimensional bar code pattern such as the QR code, which is definedby the Japanese Industrial Standard JIS-X0510, can also be acceptable.Further, a still picture, a moving picture or a letter formed by ahologram can also be acceptable. A form of a pattern is not limited to aline; it is acceptable to be formed in a circular arc. Particularly,recording by a visible letter is easy to recognize, so that it is adesirable method of recording. In a case that a font size is more-than0.5 mm square, preferably more than 1 mm square, further preferably morethan 2 mm, it can be recognized without utilizing an inherentreproducing apparatus although a pattern can be read out by a CCD(Charge Coupled Device) or like. Accordingly, such a recording method bya visible letter is easy to handle by an end user or a treater ofrecycling.

If the recording area 501 for environmental load information isallocated to an area succeeding to a title number of a usual disk, inother words, if the recording area 501 for environmental loadinformation is allocated approximately within a same radius as theengraving area 508 and allocated not to coincide with each other, bettervisibility of an environmental load information is ensured and it can beefficiently utilized. For example, the engraving area 508 is allocatedto a 60° circular arc area and a disk title and a stamper number arerecorded in the 60° circular arc area. On the other hand, the recordingarea 501 for environmental load information is allocated to a 30°circular arc area and some information selected out of a name of maincomponent, an IFPI number as a code number of disk manufacturer, adevice number utilized for mastering, a device number utilized formolding and a country of manufacturing are recorded in the 30° circulararc area. In addition thereto, the recording area 501 for environmentalload information shall be allocated not so as to obstruct to read outsignals recorded in the lead-in area 3. For example, the recording area501 shall be allocated in arbitrary radius within a radius of 16.5through 22.6 mm, particularly 18.0 through 22.5 mm, further preferably20.0 through 22.0 mm. The recording area 501 shall be backed up by therecording layer 12 and visibility of an environmental load informationshall be increased.

Further, it is desired for the environmental load information recordedon the recording area 501 for environmental load information thatletters or characters of the environmental load information can be readnormally with observing from the reading out surface 7 of the opticaldisk 500. Furthermore, the recording area 501 shall be allocated not tosuperimpose on a stuck rib, which is a ring shaped projection providedon the reading out surface 7 not so as to contact with other object, forbetter visibility. In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, theengraving area 508 and the recording area 501 for environmental loadinformation are assigned in the areas of 60° and 30° respectively.However, the other area is still blank. For example, a 30°, of the blankarea can be reserved for a future use. In other words, the optical disk500 shown in FIG. 6 is such an information recording medium ofcomprising the main information area 2 provided as an informationrecording area for recording and/or reproducing the information, theengraving area 508, which is allocated outside the inner circumferenceof the main information area 2 and in a circular arc of a predeterminedradius and recorded with an inherent information such as a title numberof the optical disk 500 as an identification information recording areaand the recording area 501 for environmental load information, which isallocated in the same circular arc mentioned above but not superimposedon the engraving area 508 and recorded with an environmental loadinformation related to the optical disk 500 itself.

Sixth Embodiment

This embodiment depicts that an environmental load information isrecorded on a surface of the reading out surface 7 opposite to theinformation recording surface 6 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an optical disk, which is formed with anarea recorded with an environmental load information on the reading outsurface, according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 7, an optical disk 600 comprises an information recording surface6, a reading out surface 7, a substrate 11, a recording layer 12, aprotection layer 13 and a recording area 601 for environmental loadinformation, which is recorded by a fine pattern of a second recordinglayer 610 readably. FIG. 7 depicts an example that an environmental loadinformation is recorded by the second recording layer 610 whether or notit exists.

Since an environmental load information is in a smaller capacity than amain information, a rather coarse pattern can be applied for a finepattern for the environmental load information. Accordingly, a widevariation of formats can be recorded. For example, a pit pattern andone-dimensional or two-dimensional bar code pattern such as the QR codecan be acceptable. Further, a letter, a character, or a Braille pointcan also be acceptable. Furthermore, a still picture, a moving pictureor a letter formed by a hologram can be acceptable. A form of a patternis not limited to a line; it is acceptable to be formed in a circulararc. The recording area 601 for environmental load information shall beallocated in either or both of the innermost and the outermostcircumference areas not so as to obstruct reading out signals recordedon the information recording surface 6.

The recording area 601 for environmental load information can beallocated throughout the reading out surface 7. In this case, a materialof the second recording layer 610 shall have a characteristic of lighttransparency so as to substantially transilluminate at least areproduction wave length of a main signal.

Since it is essential that the recording area 601 for environmental loadinformation shall be recognized by an end user and treaters of recyclingand disposing and further, the recording area 601 is not necessary torewrite, a wide range of methods such as a light, magnetism, anelectrostatic capacitance and an electric resistance can be utilized forreading out the environmental load information. A material utilized forthe second recording layer 610 can be selected by a reading out method.For example, in a case of reading out by an optical method, a metal thinfilm and a coloring matter thin film are a best material for the secondrecording layer 610. Particularly, a material having a high degree ofreflection such as gold, silver, aluminum, an alloy including them and aresin composite, which is composed of a pigment having a high luminouscontrast such as titania, silica and carbon and a dye such asanthraquinone family, azo family and perylene family, are suitable forthe second recording layer 610.

In a case of reading out by a magnetic method, a magnetic thin filmcomposed of iron, cobalt and their alloy are suitable for the secondrecording layer 610. In a case of reading out by an electrostaticcapacitance and an electric resistance, a conductive thin film such ascopper, tin, lead, aluminum and their alloy are suitable for the secondrecording layer 610. In addition thereto, these materials can beutilized for the second recording layer 610 as a multilayer of thematerials as well as utilized individually. With respect to a materialof transilluminating a reproducing wave length of a main signalsubstantially, in a case of reading out by an optical method, a resincomposite including anthraquinone and perylene dye can be utilized forthe second recording layer 610. In a case of reading out by a magneticmethod, a resin composite including a barium-ferrite magnetic materialcan be utilized for the second recording layer 610. In a case of readingout by an electrostatic capacitance or an electric resistance,tin-indium oxide can be utilized for the second recording layer 610.

In order to form the second recording layer 610, a material mentionedabove can be processed by a method of press coating, spray coating,adhering, liquid phase filming such as an electroless plating, vacuumfilming such as evaporation, sputtering and plasma CVD (chemical vapordeposition) and high pressure filming such as high pressure CVD by meansof a mask, which is formed by stamping out an environmental loadinformation. After forming the second recording layer 610, athermosetting process, if necessary, can be applied by baking, aninfrared ray lamp, a flush lamp, an ultraviolet lamp and an electronbeam radiation.

Seventh Embodiment

In the above-mentioned methods of forming the second recording layer610, there exist the press coating method by means of a mask formed bystamping out an environmental load information.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an information recording medium, which isrecorded with an environmental load information in parallel to an areafor engraving on a surface of reading area, according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, an optical disk 700comprises a substrate 711, a recording layer 12, a protection layer 13,an information recording surface 6, a reading out surface 707 and arecording area 701 for environmental load information, wherein anenvironmental load information 715 is formed in conjunction with thesubstrate 711. The environmental load information 715 is engraved on amold and the substrate 711 is formed by utilizing the mold by means of amethod such as an injection molding and a compression molding.Accordingly, the environmental load information 715 can be formed inconjunction with forming the substrate 711. It is a most efficientforming method that a material of the environmental load information 715is the same as that of the substrate 711. As an example of anenvironmental load information, some information selected out of a nameof main component, an IFPI number as a code number of disk manufacturer,a device number utilized for mastering, a device number utilized formolding and a country of manufacturing are recorded. However, aninformation, which can be engraved on a mold, is restricted, so that theinformation is limited particularly to be selected out of the name ofmain component, the IFPI number and the device number utilized formolding. In a case that a font size is more than 0.5 mm square,preferably more than 1 mm square, further preferably more than 2 mm, itcan be recognized without utilizing an inherent reproducing apparatus.Accordingly, such a recording method by a visible letter is easy tohandle by an end user or a treater of recycling. Further, theenvironmental load information 715 shall be allocated not so as toobstruct to read out signals recorded in the lead-in area 3. Forexample, the recording area 701 shall be allocated in arbitrary radiuswithin a radius of 16.5 through 22.6 mm, particularly 18.0 through 22.5mm, further preferably 20.0 through 22.0 mm.

Furthermore, it is desired for the environmental load informationrecorded on the recording area 701 that letters or characters of theenvironmental load information can be read normally, with observing formthe reading out surface 7 of the optical disk 700. In addition thereto,the environmental load information 715 can be allocated in a circulararc or in line such a bar code on a circumference. In a case that theenvironmental load information 715 is formed in conjunction with therecording area 501 for environmental load information, which is formedon an extension of the engraving area 508 shown in FIG. 6, these areasshall be allocated in different angles not so as to overlap each other.

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an optical disk 800, wherein a recordingarea 801 for environmental load information is formed directly on theprotection layer 13, according to an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 9, all reference numbers except 801 and 810 are thesame as mentioned above. An environmental load information is recordedby a fine pattern in a readable second recording layer 810 and recordedby whether or not the second recording layer 810 exists. With respect toa pattern, a same shape, material and reading out method as shown inFIG. 7 can be utilized. However, it is a most major feature that thepattern can be arbitrarily allocated throughout the protection layer 13.

Since an environmental load information is in a smaller capacity, otherfunctions can be contained in a plain of an optical disk. For example, atitle of contents and a logo of soft distributor can be formed on theplain of the optical disk.

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of a CD disk, which is applied as the opticaldisk 800 shown in FIG. 9, with viewing from the protection layer 13 onwhich the recording area 801 is allocated.

In FIG. 10, the optical disk 800 comprises the recording area 801 forenvironmental load information, which is composed of the secondrecording layer 810 and an area 805 for displaying a title of contents.The recording area 801 and the area 805 can be existed on a same surfaceof the protection layer 13. In addition thereto, a one-dimensional barcode, which is allocated in a circular arc in the radial direction ofthe optical disk 800, is formed by the second recording layer 810. Anoptical head or a CCD can read a pattern of the one-dimensional barcode.

Ninth Embodiment

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an optical disk 900 having aconfiguration of sticking together, according to a ninth embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 11, the optical disk 900 comprises afirst substrate 11 a, a first recording layer 12 a, a bonding layer 14,a second recording layer 12 b, a second substrate 11 b, a firstinformation recording surface 6 a, a second information recordingsurface 6 b, a reading out surface 7 a and an opposite surface 7 b tothe reading out surface 7 a, and further a recording area 901 forenvironmental load information is directly formed on the oppositesurface 7 b of the second substrate 11 b, wherein the recording area 901is composed of a third recording layer 910. The optical disk 900 is anexample of a single side reading out type dual layer disk having tworeading out surfaces 6 a and 6 b, which are read out from the readingout surface 7 a. With respect to a pattern, a same shape, material andreading out method as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 can be utilized. However,it is a most major feature that the pattern can be arbitrarily allocatedthroughout the opposite surface 7 b.

FIG. 12 shows a plan view of a DVD dual layer disk, which is applied asthe optical disk 900 shown in FIG. 11, with viewing from the oppositesurface 7 b on which the recording area 901 is allocated. In FIG. 12,the optical disk 900 comprises the recording area 901 composed of thethird recording layer 910 and an area 905 for displaying a title ofcontents. The recording area 901 and the area 905 are allocated on asame plain. An environmental load information is recorded as a lineartwo-dimensional bar code. An optical head or a CCD can read out thetwo-dimensional bar code. Particularly, the bar code is linear, so thata bar code reader can read out the bar code without rotating the opticaldisk 900. Accordingly, the optical disk 900 is convenient for a treaterof recycling or disposing.

Tenth Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an optical disk 1000, which is adifferent configuration from the optical disks shown in FIGS. 7 and 9,according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 13,the optical disk 1000 comprising the substrate 11, the recording layer12 and the protection layer 13 is the same configuration as that ofshown in FIG. 7. However, the reading out surface 7 is allocated on theprotection layer 13. Further, a recording area 1001 for environmentalload information is composed of a second recording layer 1010 and formeddirectly on the substrate 11. With respect to a pattern, a same shape,material and reading out method as shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11 can beutilized. However, it is a most major feature that the pattern can bearbitrarily allocated throughout an outer surface of the substrate 11.

FIG. 14 shows a plan view of a high density optical disk 1000, which isreproduced by a light having a wave length of 350 to 550 nm, withviewing from the protection layer 7 on which the recording area 1001 isallocated. In FIG. 14, the optical disk 1000 comprises the recordingarea 1001 composed of the second recording layer 1010 and an area 1005for displaying a title of contents. The recording area 1001 and the area1005 are allocated on a same plain. An environmental load information isrecorded as a letter pattern. The pattern can be read out by a CCD,which is one optical reading out device. Further, the pattern can beread out by a human's eye with depending upon a font size. In a casethat a font size is more than 0.5 mm square, preferably more than 1 mmsquare, further preferably more than 2 mm, it can be recognized withoututilizing an inherent reproducing apparatus. Accordingly, such arecording method by a visible letter is easy to handle by an end user ora treater of recycling or disposing.

The environmental load information shown in FIG. 14 is written inEnglish. However, any languages can be applicable.

The recording methods of recording an environmental load information onthe optical disk disclosed in the sixth through tenth embodiment arethat the environmental load information is recorded on another surfacethan the information recording surface 6. An advantage of the recordingmethod is that a signal recording method of main signal or maininformation is not necessary to change or a reproduction capacity ofdisk is not necessary to reduce at all.

Eleventh Embodiment

As mentioned above, the present invention can be applied to arecording/reproducing type optical disk such as a MD disk, a MO disk, anHS disk, a GIGAMO disk, an ASMO disk, a PD disk, a DVD-RAM disk, aDVD-RW disk and a DVD-+RW disk. Almost all these disks are required tobe contained in a cartridge. Further, some of these disks can be removedfrom a cartridge. An optical disk having a reading out surface providedon an outer surface of the protection layer 13 is still underdevelopment. However, such a disk can be contained in a cartridge.Furthermore, almost all magnetic disks must be contained in a cartridge.

FIG. 15 shows an appearance of an optical disk with cartridge as aninformation recording medium according to an eleventh embodiment of thepresent invention. In FIG. 15, an optical disk with cartridge 1100comprises a cartridge housing 20, a shutter 21 and arecording/reproducing type disk 22, which is contained in the cartridgehousing 20. The shutter 21 is engaged with the cartridge housing 20 andcan move within a predetermined range. At least one surface of the disk22 is provided as an information recording surface and a first area 1102for recording/reproducing is provided on the information recordingsurface. Further, two holes 23 are provided on the cartridge housing 20for locating the cartridge, discriminating a side “A” or “B” ordiscriminating whether or not the disk 22 exists. Furthermore, a secondarea 1105 for displaying a title of contents is provided on thecartridge housing 20.

As shown in FIG. 15, a first and a second recording areas 1101 a and1101 b for environmental load information are provided on the cartridgehousing 20. The first recording area 1101 a is allocated in a vicinityof the holes 23 and the second recording area 1101 b is allocated in avicinity of the second area 1105. The first recording area 1101 a is,for example, 90 mm long and 5 mm wide, and an environmental loadinformation 1110 a is recorded as a letter pattern by means of embossinga mold. Contents of the environmental load information 1110 a are amaterial information related to the optical disk with cartridge 1100.Main materials of the cartridge housing 20, the shutter 21 and thebuilt-in optical disk 22 are recorded as shown in FIG. 15. Accordingly,a CCD, which is one of optical reading out devices, can read out thematerial information such that the main component of the cartridgehousing 20 is acrylonitrile-butadien-styrene (ABS) resin, the maincomponent of the shutter 21 is polyacetal resin (POM) and the maincomponent of the built-in optical disk 22 is polycarbonate resin (PC).In this case, a size of the environmental load information 1110 a israther large, so that an inherent reproducing apparatus is not necessaryfor reading out the information. By reading out the environmental loadinformation 1110 a by human's eye, recorded contents can be recognizedwith referring a comparison table of material and its abbreviation.

The second recording area 1011 b is, for example, 15 mm square, and anenvironmental load information is recorded as a reflection type hologram1110 b. In this case, contents of the environmental load information area recycling information or re-using information and an abandoninginformation, which are coded by a predetermined rule. The hologram 1110b looks like checks at a glance. However, a black square is composed ofrecording layers in grating, which generate a diffraction angle of 30°to the black square, and a white square is composed of recording layersin grating, which generate a diffraction angle of 60° to the whitesquare. A treater of disposing can read out the coded environmental loadinformation of the hologram 1110 b by utilizing a reading apparatus bylaser, which is one of optical methods.

Twelfth Embodiment

As mentioned above, the present invention can also be applied to amagnetic tape. Almost all magnetic tapes are essentially contained in acartridge. Such a magnetic tape with cartridge is applied for videotapeof the VHS (Video Home System) family such as a VHS tape, an S-VHS tape,a W-VHS tape and a D-VHS tape.

FIG. 16 shows an appearance of a magnetic tape with cartridge 1200 as aninformation recording medium according to a twelfth embodiment of thepresent invention. In FIG. 16, the magnetic tape with cartridge 1200comprises a cartridge housing 1220, a shutter 1221 and arecording/reproducing tape 24 built in the cartridge housing 1220. Theshutter 1221 is engaged with the cartridge housing 1220 and can movewithin a predetermined range. At least one surface of the tape 24 isprovided for an information recording surface 1206 and an area 1202 forrecording/reproducing is provided on the information recording surface1206.

Further, a hole 25 for preventing from accidental erasure is provided onthe cartridge housing 1220. Furthermore, there provided a first area1205 a and a second area 1205 b on the cartridge housing 1220, they areutilized for displaying a title of contents. As shown in FIG. 16, thefirst area 1205 a is allocated on the top surface of the cartridgehousing 1220 and the second area 1205 b is allocated on the side of thecartridge housing 1220. Usually, a product name is described in thefirst area 1205 a. However, an end user can describe a title of contentsin the first area 1205 a by attaching a sticker or like. The second area1205 b is provided for describing a title of contents by an end user. Asshown in FIG. 16, a first and a second recording areas 1201 a and 1201 bfor environmental load information are provided. The first recordingarea 1201 a is allocated nearby the first area 1205 a and the secondarea 1201 b is allocated in a vicinity of the hole 25.

The first recording area 1201 a is, for example, 160 mm long and 15 mmwide, and an environmental load information 1210 a is recorded as aletter pattern by means of embossing a mold. Contents of theenvironmental load information 1210 a are a material information relatedto the magnetic tape with cartridge 1200. Main materials of thecartridge housing 1220, the shutter 1221 and the built-in tape 24 arerecorded as shown in FIG. 16. Accordingly, a CCD, which is one ofoptical reading out devices, can read out the material information suchthat the main component of the cartridge housing 1220 and the shutter1221 is polystyrene (PS) resin and the main component of the tape 24 ispolyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. In this case, a size of theenvironmental load information 1210 a is rather large, so that aninherent reproducing apparatus is not necessary for reading out theinformation. By reading out the environmental load information 1210 a byhuman's eye, recorded contents can be recognized with referring acomparison table of material and its abbreviation.

The second recording area 1201 b is, for example, 7 mm square, and anenvironmental load information is recorded as an embossment 1210 b bymeans of embossing a mold. In this case, contents of the environmentalload information recorded in the embossment 1210 b are an abandoninginformation, which is patterned by a predetermined rule. The embossment1210 b looks like checks at a glance. However, for example, a blacksquare is dented and a white square is projected. A treater of disposingcan read-out the environmental load information of the embossment 1210 bby utilizing a reading apparatus by electrostatic capacitance or acontact type electrode.

As mentioned in the above embodiments, information to be supplied to anend user and a treater of disposing can be different from each other. Itis desired that information shall be recorded clearly and simply so asto eliminate unnecessary confusion. Further, it is desired thatinformation shall be recorded by a plurality of methods in considerationof configurations of easier utilization by everyone.

Thirteenth Embodiment

FIG. 19 shows a block diagram of a reproducing apparatus for aninformation recording medium according to a thirteenth embodiment of thepresent invention. The reproducing apparatus reads out an environmentalload information recorded in an optical disk such as 100, 200, 500 shownin FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 respectively, of which the recording area forenvironmental load information is allocated in the information recordingsurface 6. In FIG. 19, the reproduction apparatus comprises a pickup 50,a motor 51, a detector 52 for a disk, a servo circuit (SERVO) 54, acontroller 55, a decoder 56, a first random access memory (RAM 1) 57, asecond random access memory (RAM 2) 59 and an interface (I/F) 60.

The detector 52 is a sensor of detecting whether or not a disk exists inthe reproducing apparatus. The pickup 50 is an optical pickup, whichirradiates the information recording surface 6 of the optical disk withlaser and reads out a recorded signal by receiving reflected light, andthen the read out signal is transferred to the decoder 56. Further, afocus error signal and a tracking error signal, which are based upon thereflected light, are transmitted to the servo circuit 54 although thissignal flow is not shown in FIG. 19. The servo circuit 54 generates afocus servo signal and a tracking servo signal in response to a controlby the controller 55 and sends these signals to the optical pickup 50.In the meantime, the servo circuit 54 also generates a rotation servosignal and transmits it to the motor 51. The decoder 56 decodes thesignal read out by the pickup 50 and performs an error correction.

While decoding and correcting error, a timetable information at a timewhen a lead-in signal is read in and its related address number arestored in the “RAM 1” 57. With referring to the information stored inthe “RAM 1” 57, the controller 55 reproduces an information allocated ata designated address number on a basis of user designated information.The reproduced information is transferred to the I/F 60 and outputted.An environmental load information can be obtained by reading out therecording area for environmental load information with the opticalpickup 50 and stored in the “RAM 2” 59. The environmental loadinformation stored in the “RAM 2” 59 is reproduced by an order of thecontroller 55 and transmitted to the I/F 60, and then outputted.

The reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 19 is suitable for a case suchthat a main recording information and an environmental load informationare composed of a similar format. It is a corresponding case; forexample, that a main recording information is a movie recorded in theaspect ratio of 16:9 and an environmental load information is a shortprogram produced by the EDTV (extended definition television) system inseveral minutes.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the reproducingapparatus can be applicable to a magnetic disk and a magnetic tape. Inthis case, the optical pickup 50 is replace with a magnetic head.

Fourteenth Embodiment

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of another reproducing apparatus for aninformation recording medium according to a fourteenth embodiment of thepresent invention. The reproducing apparatus reads out an environmentalload information recorded in an optical disk such as 800, 900 and 1000shown in FIGS. 9 through 14 respectively, of which the recording areafor environmental load information is allocated on the other surfacethan the information recording surface 6. In FIG. 20, the reproducingapparatus comprises a first pickup 50, a motor 51, a detector 52 for adisk, a second pickup 53 for reproducing an environmental loadinformation, a servo circuit (SERVO) 54, a controller 55, a firstdecoder 56, a first random access memory (RAM 1) 57, a second decoder58, a second random access memory (RAM 2) 59, a first interface (I/F 1)60, a second interface (I/F 2) 61 and a display 62. The second pickup 53is allocated nearby the recording area for environmental loadinformation and can read out the information. The second pickup 53 isselected out from various heads such as an optical head, a CCD, amagnetic head, an electrostatic capacitance head and an electrode head.

An environmental load information can be read out at a same time when amain information is read out or read out individually. The controller 55can direct the servo circuit 54, which is connected to the motor 51, inaccordance with a reading out method of the environmental loadinformation. The environmental load information read out by the pickup53 is transmitted to the second decoder 58 and decoded properly andperformed by an error correction, if necessary, and then stored in the“RAM 2” 59. The decoded environmental load information stored in the“RAM 2” 59 is reproduced by an order of the controller 55 andtransferred to the “I/F 2” 61, and then outputted to the display 62.Various displaying methods such as a simplest indication by single or aplurality of LED (light emitting diode) lamps, a text display by a LCD(liquid crystal display) display, displaying a table format by a smallmonitor screen, an audio presentation by a speaker and a printindication by a printer or a plotter can be applicable for the display62 and it can be selected in accordance with a format of environmentalload information.

Other functions of the components except mentioned above are exactly thesame as those of the reproduction apparatus shown in FIG. 19.

While the invention has been described above with reference to specificembodiments thereof, it is apparent that many changes, modifications andvariations in the arrangement of equipment and devices and in materialscan be made without departing from the invention concept disclosedherein. For example, the second pickup 53 shown in FIG. 20 is allocatedopposite to the first pickup 50 with putting a disk between the pickups50 and 53. However, the allocation is not limited the case shown in FIG.20. In a case of the disks 600 shown in FIGS. 7 and 700 shown in FIG. 8,the recording area 601 or 701 for environmental load information isallocated on the reading out surface 7 or 707 of the disk 600 or 700, sothat the second pickup 53 can be allocated in the same side of the diskas the first pickup 50 is allocated.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, an environmental loadinformation is recorded diffusely in a plurality of inherent areas,which are formed in the main information area. However, theenvironmental load information can be diffusely recorded in grooves orsignal tracks, which are formed in the main information area.

Furthermore, each mechanism can be highly sophisticated in considerationof facilities for an end user, a treater of recycling and a treater ofabandon.

In addition thereto, an optical disk is not limited only to a read onlyoptical disk but also applicable to a recordable optical disk andfurther applicable to any other information recording mediums havingsimilar configuration.

According to the aspect of the present invention, an environmental loadinformation is previously recorded on an information recording medium,so that the medium can be properly disposed or recycled in accordancewith the recorded environmental load information, which is read out bythe reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

Accordingly, environmental conditions of the earth can be protected frompossible pollution.

What is claimed:
 1. An information recording medium comprising: a main information recording area provided for recording or reproducing main information; and a recording area for environmental load information recorded with environmental load information at least composed of product manufacturing information related to said information recording medium, said main information recording area and said recording area for environmental load information being formed without overlapping each other, wherein said environmental load information is recorded as a letter pattern, and wherein said product manufacturing information is composed of a name or code representing at least one company from a manufacturing company, a requesting company for manufacturing, and a contents producing company, and further wherein said letter pattern is a visible pattern having a size of more than 0.5 mm square.
 2. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information recording medium comprising: a main information recording area provided for recording or reproducing main information; and a recording area for environmental load information recorded with environmental load information being at least composed of product manufacturing information related to said information recording medium, said main information recording area and said recording area for environmental load information being formed without overlapping each other, wherein said recording area for environmental load information is recorded as a letter pattern, and wherein said product manufacturing information is composed of a name or code representing at least one company from a manufacturing company, a requesting company for manufacturing, and a contents producing company, and further wherein said letter pattern is a visible pattern having a size of 0.5 mm square, said reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing means for reproducing said main information by a light source having a wavelength of 350 to 550 nm.
 3. The information recording medium in accordance with claim 2, wherein said two-dimensional bar code pattern is the QR code. 